Slime-table for concentrating ores



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. NICHOLS. SLIME TABLE FOR GONGENTRATING 033s.

Patented Apr. 25, 1882.

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WILLIAM NICHOLS, ()F PHCENIX, MICHIGAN.

SLIME TABLE FOR CONCENTRATING ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,056, dated April 25, 1882.

Application filed December 31, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM NronoLs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Phoenix, in the county of Keweenaw and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful 1mprovements in Slime-Tables for Ooncentratin g Ores, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of machines for concentrating ores which are composed of an inclined revolving table, around the circumference of which is arranged a perforated pipe for causing water to flow down the table, the ore deposited on the revolving table being carried around, and while so carried washed by means of the flowing water, the various particles of ore, according to their specific gravity, being carrieda greater or less distance down the inclined table, whereby they are separated, the tailings and washed ore bein g received into separate receptacles arranged around theedgeof a centralopenin ginthetable.

Myinvention has for its object to improve such construction of machines, and to produce an apparatus simple ofconstruction which will separate and concentrate the ore or mineral and also the waste material in a perfect and efficient manner. This object I accomplish by the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my table partly broken away, Fig. 2 a vertical section, and Fig. 3 a side view.

The letter R indicates the main supportingframe. Bevel bearing-wheels P are mounted in brackets g on the frame. An annular ringframe, A, rests upon and revolves on the wheels P, the frame being provided with an annular track or way, a, in which the wheels run. The table-beams.E rest upon and are secured to the ring-frame A and to the outer rim, F, of the table. The angle at which the beams E are set is regulated according to the material to'be operated upon. Other annular crosspieces F F rest upon the beams E, and over these crosspieces and the rim of the table is laid a suitable flooring or sheathing, G, of wood. A covering, H, of cloth, duck, rawhide, rub ber,-leather, or any other similar suitable material, is placed over the sheathing G. A vertical flange, S, is secured on the outer (No model.)

edge of the rim F, so as to form an annular groove or recess between it and the edge of the sheathing G. The outer edge, A, of the ring A is toothed or geared, and it and the table mounted thereon are rotated by a worm, B, on a shaft, D, which shaft is mounted in bearings on the frame R, and carries a pulley, O, on its end, which is driven by a belt at any required speed from any suitable power. A hub, I, having launders I and L, in which the waste and ore are concentrated, is secured to frame'R and fits snugly in central opening of table, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Dischargepipes J J J lead from the waste-launder I and a pipe, M, from the ore-launder L. The pipe M discharges into a trough, N, which carries the ore to any suitable receptacle and the pipes J may discharge the waste into any vessel or trough.

A water-supply pipe, 0, is supported above therevolvin g table, and iscurved so as to hang within or over the annular recess Sat the edge of the table. The bottom of this pipe is perforated, so that the water is dischargedin to the groove or recess S, which, when full, overflows and discharges a smooth film-like steam over the surface of the table. The supply of water will of course be regulated by a suitable stopcock or valves at each end of thepipe. Another water-pipe, K, is arranged about parallel with the face of the table, and has a series of jetpipes, k, which are curved or inclined toward the surface and center of the table, as'shown in Fig. 1.

The material to be treated is delivered to the table at the points marked Delivery by any suitable means, and as the table is revolved in the direction of the arrow by the rack and worm the water supplied by the pipe 0 flows over the surface of the table and washes the waste material down into the launder or receptacle I, from whence it is discharged by the pipes J. As the table continues to revolve the ore on it, having been cleansed of the waste foreign substances, reaches the pointunder the jets 7c, and is by them washed down into the launder L, from whence it is discharged by the pipe M into the trough E.

It will thus be seen that the machineis continuous in its operation, the ore being treated continuously as it is placed or fed onto the table; that the ore is concentrated in one receptacle, and that the waste is also concentrated, and may thus be very easily disposed of. The utility and practical advantages of thus concentrating the ore and waste in a contin uous operation are great and obvious.

The covering of cloth or other material possessing' a soft, rough, or fibrous surface, such as those above mentioned, readily catches the ore, which usually has sharp edges, but permits the waste to be washed down. By using such a covering I am enabled to incline the table steeper than otherwise, and thus insure the more thorough washing oif of the waste.

The central portion, 1 of the hub I is elevated, as shown'in Fig. 2, in order to prevent the .ore and waste from being washed over it and escaping, and the lower edge of said hub is formed into an open offset, 1', as clearly illustrated.

The open offset i above mentioned is pro vided so that any ore, waste, or water which may escape between the inner edge of the table and the band 1" may fall into the launders I and L.

Many modifications of the apparatus above described will doubtless readily suggestthemselves to those familiar with this class of machinery without departing from the spirit of my invention. The table may vary in size according to circumstances'and the character of work to be done. One ten feet in diameter is a very efficient size for most purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination of theinclined table having the annular groove atits outer edge, mechanism for rotating the table, the perforated water-supply pipe which is supported in or above the annular groove in the table and dis charges the water into the groove, ore and waste launders or receptacles at the inner edge of the table, and the water-jet pipes for washing the ore down the table into its launder, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the inclined table, means for revolving the same, the band 1', carried by said table, the hub I, and the annular receptacle constituting the launders I and L, which receptacle extends out beyond the lower edge of the band i to form the open offset 1', substantially as described.

3. The combination of the main supportingframe, the wheels thereon, the superposed ringframe, and the inclined table carried thereby, the rack and worm, the water-supply pipes O and K, and the stationary hub having the ore and waste launders,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM NICHOLS.

Witnesses:

OTIS B. BRYANT, M. A. DELANO. 

